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Guidance for Reviewers: Observations After a Year as EditorMelanie M. Domenech Rodriguez, Utah
State University

ABSTRACT: Reviewers are
at the heart of the Psi Chi Journal of
Psychological Research (PCJ). If
not for their service, the journal quality would be seriously compromised as
would its mission to support the educational and professional development of
authors.Reviewers provide an expert
evaluation for authors and the journal editor. Through this evaluation the
authors learn to strengthen their skills as researchers by specifically
receiving feedback on the content of their scholarly arguments, the
applicability and accuracy of the methods chosen, and the implications of their
work. Reviewers also provide important guidance to the journal editor, also a
scientist, who may need support from expert colleagues on content and methods.
As I close my first year as Editor in Chief of the Psi Chi Journal, I am more grateful than ever for the role
reviewers play in the scientific community. This guidance document is intended
to provide support to reviewers by describing the review process, clarifying
expectations, and addressing some common challenges.

Important Considerations When Reviewing ManuscriptsPaul Scott, Rockhurst University

ABSTRACT: There is a
long history of short articles on preparing and reviewing manuscripts (e.g.,
Bentley et all., 1929; Lovejoy, Revenson & France, 2011). Producing quality
manuscript reviews is recognized as an activity requiring time, effort, and
skill (Bearinger, 2006; Wu, Nassau, & Drotar, 2010). Articles on reviewing
often provide information on the form of the review and the process that
generates a thoughtful and constructive review (Neighbors & Lee, 2006). The
emphasis of this piece is on the dual functions of a review: to evaluate the
manuscript and to help improve the scholarly product (Kaplan, 2005; Roberts,
Coverdale, Edenharder, & Louie, 2004).

ABSTRACT: The majority
of previous social psychological research regarding interpersonal reactions
with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals has examined
interpersonal prejudice toward members of the LGBT community (Blashill & Powlishta,
2009; Herek & Capitanio, 1999; Snyder & Uranowitz, 1978). To expand and
diversify the research knowledge base, we focused on reactive empathy. One
hundred and sixteen college women read a short vignette of a heterosexual,
gay/lesbian, or unspecified man or woman who was having a bad day. Participants
then completed a reactive empathy scale and a general empathy scale. Results
show that college women report more reactive empathy toward heterosexual
characters than toward gay men or lesbian characters, F(2, 109) = 8.01, p <
.001, np2 =
.13, and participants reported significantly higher reactive empathy scores for
the lesbian character than the gay male character, t(47) = 1.84, p = .037 (one-tailed), r2 = .08. Findings indicate
that gay men or lesbians experiencing negative circumstances may be viewed with
less empathy than heterosexual men and women experiencing similar
circumstances.

Influences of Family of Origin and Relationship Closeness on
Romantic Attachment SecurityAriel Levesque, Eastern Connecticut
State University

ABSTRACT:This study
examined the association between family of origin social and emotional
environment and romantic relationship closeness on romantic relationship attachment
security. A convenience sample was taken of 52 undergraduate students who had
been in a romantic relationship for a minimum of two months. Self-report
questionnaires were used to assess how family of origin autonomy and intimacy
and romantic relationship closeness (diversity, strength, and frequency)
influenced romantic relationship attachment security (avoidance and anxiety).
This study used multiple regression analyses to determine that family of origin
autonomy was negatively correlated with avoidance t(1) = 4.58, p = .00 and
anxiety, t(1) = 3.76, p < .001, partially supporting the
hypotheses. Implications, especially in the realm of family and couple
counseling, are discussed.

Predictors of Relationship Self-Efficacy in UndergraduatesMollimichelle Cabeldue and Stefanie
S. Boswell, University of the Incarnate Word

ABSTRACT: Relationship
self-efficacy (RSE) is confidence in one’s ability to support successful
relationships. The present study investigated RSE’s relationship with
attachment style (secure, anxious, and avoidant), jealousy, self-esteem, and
gender. College undergraduates (N =
126) completed the Relationship Self-Efficacy Scale, Adult Attachment Scale,
Self-Report Jealousy Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and a demographic
questionnaire. RSE was significantly correlated with self-esteem (r = .35), avoidant attachment style (r = -.23), and anxious attachment style
(r = -.20). Stepwise multiple
regression analysis revealed that self-esteem and jealousy were the only
significant predictors of RSE (R2
= .16, adjusted R2 = .14).
Although jealousy and RSE did not have a significant bivariate relationship, a
positive relationship emerged after controlling for the other variables. It is
possible that jealous attitudes may spur individuals to be more attentive
toward their relationship partner; increased focus on the relationship may be
associated with increased RSE. The reverse direction of effect, in which RSE
contributes to jealousy and self-esteem, remains an alternative plausible
explanation of this association.

ABSTRACT: This study
examined the effectiveness of a university-based Life Fitness course on college
students’ health behavior in terms of the number of hours students spent doing
various types of exercise-related activities (moderate activities, hard
activities, and very hard activities) before and after the course.Participants were asked to complete a serious
of questions regarding daily activity levels and habits both before and after
the completion of the course.Results
revealed significant increases in the mean number of hours spent on each type
of exercise-related activity.Specifically,
for moderate activities, there were significant main effects for time, F(1, 187) = 6.70, p =
.01, ηp2 =
.04, and sex, F(1, 187) = 18.80, p < .001, ηp2 = .09, with increases in these activities
across time and men reporting higher mean levels of this activity compared to
women.For hard activities, there was a
significant time x sex interaction, F(1, 112) = 5.90, p = .03, ηp2 =
.04, indicating more dramatic increases for men during this period.For very hard activities, there was a
significant main effect for sex, F(1,
112) = 11.40, p < .001, ηp2
= .09, indicating
that men reported higher mean levels of these activities relative to
women.Findings yield important
implications for future research on the relationship between health-promotive
intervention and students’ health-related behaviors and the establishment of
healthy attitudes and behaviors that persist into adulthood.

ABSTRACT:In prior research, relationship satisfaction has been predominantly
researched in a hetero-normative context. This study examines relationship
satisfaction in 90 lesbians and 213 heterosexual women. We did not find
significant differences of relationship satisfaction, commitment, passion, or
intimacy based on sexual orientation. In order to determine whether age, length
of relationship, and living with children predicted relationship satisfaction,
we ran linear regressions. This model was insignificant for heterosexual women,
but length of relationship accounted for 36% of the variance of relationship
satisfaction, p = .27. Regression
analyses were also conducted to determine whether commitment, passion, and
intimacy were predictors of relationship satisfaction. We found that passion
and intimacy were predictors of relationship satisfaction for both lesbians and
heterosexual women, whereas commitment was not significant. Passion and
intimacy accounted for 61% of the variance for heterosexual women, p < .001, and 77% of the variance for
lesbians, p < .001. This research
is interesting because passion and intimacy predict women’s relationship
satisfaction, in both heterosexual and lesbian relationships. Clinical
implications can be drawn to examine these factors of a relationship in therapy
to increase overall relationship satisfaction, regardless of sexual
orientation.

The Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research educates, supports, and promotes professional development, and disseminates psychological science. Only original, empirical manuscripts that make a contribution to psychological knowledge are published. Authors are Psi Chi members at the undergraduate, graduate, and faculty level.

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